Folding seat assembly

ABSTRACT

A folding seat assembly to provide easy access to a storage area behind the seat for use particularly in boats or aircraft. The seat assembly allows a seat ( 32 ) to be folded into a seat box ( 1 ) and rides on a pivot pin ( 27 ) within a track aperture ( 26 ). A lock ( 11 ) is provided to secure the seat within the seat box. An upper handle ( 9 ) on the bottom of the seat frame assist the user in lowering the seat to an open use position. A lower handle ( 10 ) allows the seat box to be lifted upward for access to storage and equipment behind the seat. The seat box is supported in the latter position by at least one lifter ( 21 ) attached to a back of the seat box and a support on the boat or aircraft in which the seat assembly is used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to folding seats and more particularly to a folding seat for a boat or aircraft with easy access to equipment in a storage space behind the seat.

In many situations where space is limited due to size and weight limitations, particularly in boats and aircraft, every available space must be used to store things, including the space behind seats. Thus, often batteries and items of equipment are located behind seats of boats and aircraft. Unfortunately, due to such a location access to batteries and other items of equipment behind the seats is limited, thereby making maintenance and service difficult. In many cases the seat cushions must be removed from a seat and even then a person has only limited access to the battery equipment through the opening and seat support.

Thus a need exists for a seat assembly that allows for easy access to a storage location beneath the seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a seat that allows for the storage of items behind it.

Another object of the present invention is to provid a seat that allows easy access to the items stored behind it.

Even another object of the present invention is to provide a seat that folds out of the way to provide full access to the items stored behind the seat.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a seat that can be secured in a folded up position to prevent it from falling onto a person.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a seat having a frame with a front rail, back rail, and two side rails, which folds into a box. The seat is connected to upright elongated track rails on each side by a rotary pin which moves within an aperture from a top seat-open position to a bottom seat-closed position. The seat frame may have side support arms connecting each side rail to the seat box. A locking means may be provided on the seat to hold the seat in the folded and closed position. At least one upper handle may be provided to assist in pulling down the seat frame from a folded position. A lower handle allows the entire seat box to be lifted upward and supported by lifters when access to storage behind the seat is desired.

The above and other objects, features-and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the seat of the present invention in a closed and locked position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat of the present invention and open seated position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the complete seat assembly of the present invention in a fully opened position;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the complete assembly with the seat in the opened position; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the track rail of the seat of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:

-   1. seat box -   2. seat box frame -   3. seat support arms -   4. seat cushion bottom -   5. seat top rail -   6. angle support bar -   7. seat box pivot hinge -   8. head cushion -   9. upper handle -   10. lower handle -   11. lock -   12. seat side rail -   13. seat center rail -   14. seat side rail -   15. boat floor -   16. seat cushion screws -   17. seat bottom rail -   18. seat cushion top -   19. pivot nut -   20. back cushion rest -   21. lifters -   22. seat lifter attachment brackets -   23. boat lifter attachment -   24. equipment/storage compartment -   25. track rail -   26. pivot pin track aperture -   27. seat pivot pin -   28. lower rail pivot pin -   29. upper rail pivot pin -   30. seat-open track rest notch -   31. bottom seat-closed position of track aperture -   32. seat -   33. head cushion plate

FIG. 1, shows a seat assembly of the present invention as it would appear in a closed and locked position when the seat is not in use. In the unused position the seat 32 is folded completely into the seat box 1 which provides maximum availability of the space on the boat floor 15. The seat 32 is held securely in the seat box 1 by a lock 11 to prevent inadvertent opening. The seat box 1 is mounted within a frame 2 in the boat as shown. The bottom of the seat 32 has top rail 5, bottom rail 17, two side rails 12 and 14 and middle rail 13 to which seat cushions 4 are securely attached by screws 16 in the rails 12, 13, and 14. Above the seat box is a head cushion 8 which may be attached to a plate on a seat box pivot hinge 7. When the seat 32 is closed the seat support bar 3 and angle support bar 6 are also folded into the box 1. On the bottom of the seat 32 is an upper handle 9 and a lower handle 10 mounted in line with the central rail 13. The upper handle 9 is used for pulling the seat outward and downward to open the seat as shown in FIG. 2. The lower handle 10 is used to open the seat 32 by pulling upward so as to provide access to equipment behind the seat box 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the seat 32 is shown in an opened seating position. In this position the seat 32 is supported by the seat support arms 3 which extend from a pivot nut 19 to a lower point of attachment on the seat side rails 12 and 14. The seat cushion top 18 and a back cushion 20 are also shown.

In FIG. 3 the entire seat 32 is folded into the seat box 1. The latter is accomplished by pulling the lower handle 10 upward so as to provide access to equipment 24 behind the seat 32 for service and maintenance. The seat box 1 is supported at the top by the seat box pivot hinge 7 and maintained in an elevated position by lifters 21, which may be hydraulic or pneumatic, and which are attached to an upper end of the seat box 22 at attachment brackets 23 behind the seat assembly and to a lower end at attachment brackets 23 on the boat.

FIG. 4 shows in a side plan view a track rail 25 on the inside portion of the each side of the seat box 1. The track rail 25, which is shown in further detail in FIG. 5, is vertically elongated and has a bottom seat-closed position 31 and an upper seat-open track rest notch 30 where at the pivot pin 27 rests when the seat is opened. Seat support arm 3 may be attached to the side rails 12 by a lower rail pivot pin 28 and inside the seat box 1 by an upper pivot pin 19.

FIG. 5 shows the track rails 25 with the aperture 26 within which the seat pivot pin 27 moves. The aperture 26 has a bottom seat-closed position 31 and an upper seat-open notch 30 to lock the seat 32 in the open position. Near the top of the track rails 25 are pivot pin holes 19 for the seat support arms 3.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein above, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are included as part of this invention. 

1. A folding seat assembly comprising: a seat box having a back, a top side, bottom side and two end sides; a seat capable of being accommodated by the seat box, said seat having a frame; vertically elongated track rails on each of the two end sides of the seat box, said track rail having a track aperture extending from a bottom seat-closed position to a top seat-opened position; at least one handle for pulling the seat from the seat box; and a support means for holding the seat box in an elevated position when access to storage and equipment behind the seat assembly is desired.
 2. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising: support arms connecting each side of the seat frame to a top of the track rails.
 3. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the support means for holding the seat box in the open elevated position comprises: at least one lifter attached at one end to the seat box and at another end to a support on a structure in which the seat is used.
 4. The folding seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the support means for holding the seat box in a open elevated position comprises: at least one lifter attached at one end to the seat box and at another end to a support on a structure in which the seat is used.
 5. The folding seat assembly of claim 3 further comprising a back cushion attached to a top of the seat box.
 6. The folding seat assembly of claim 4 further comprising a back cushion attached to a top of the seat box.
 7. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising: means for securing the seat in a closed position when folded into the seat box.
 8. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the seat comprises a latch lock on a bottom of the seat frame and a latch keeper on a side of the seat box.
 9. The folding seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame of the seat comprises a front, back, center and two side rails for holding and attaching seat cushions. 